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bass posts

Polk snips the cord on PSWi225 portable wireless subwoofer

by Darren Murph posted Jan 20th 2009 at 12:59PM


Haven't you heard? Wireless subwoofers are all the rage right now, man. Polk Audio is following the lead of Infinity and a gaggle of others by introducing the PSWi225, a "portable" cord-free subwoofer that can be added in to any home theater / stereo setup with utmost ease. The earth-shaker supports RF wireless signal transmission and delivers a 40Hz to 180Hz frequency response from the floor-firing enclosure. The unit itself measures in at 12- x 13- x 12-inches and houses a rugged long-throw Dynamic Balance co-polymer driver with Butyl Rubber surround. Curiously, there's no mention of the speaker size, though we are told that an active crossover system is included for those who like to fiddle. Check it this March for $399 (MSRP).

Ask Engadget HD: What's the best home theater subwoofer under $500?

by Darren Murph posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 12:00PM Featured Story


So, you're one of those "build your own multi-channel surround system" folks, are you? If so, we'll bet you're a lot like Jeff (and you didn't even know it).

"I'm in the process of assembling a 5.1 system for my den, but I'm really concerned about making the right decision on a subwoofer. I'm putting a cap of $500 on it, but I want the most boom (and tightest boom) for my buck. I haven't purchased my towers or surrounds yet, so I'm open to any brand / model / etc."

Ah, starting with the low-end, are we? Probably not a bad place to begin, quite honestly, and we're hoping that you readers can chime in with a few recommendations for this here bass lover. Rumble away in comments below.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Wireless ButtKicker kit ready to rumble your posterior

by Darren Murph posted Nov 17th 2008 at 10:40AM


Earlier this year, we were fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on perspective) enough to get our rumps on one of the famed ButtKickers. For those unaware, these devices are meant for installation underneath a seat or sofa in order to provide chair-rumbling effects to help you "feel" the film. Now, the Guitammer Company is making them even easier to install by cutting the wires, bringing low frequency audio transducers just inches from your derriere without any cords necessary. The above pictured kit will go on sale next Friday (yes, that's Black Friday for you Americans) for under $300 on Amazon -- are you really ready to rumble?

Crowson's Shadow Actuator rumbles your rump, won't damage your ears

by Darren Murph posted Sep 5th 2008 at 6:03PM


Certainly you've heard of the bass shaker concept by now, right? If not, here's an alternative from Crowson that should make things crystal clear. The firm's new Shadow, which is obviously targeting the custom install market, gets bolted beneath any theater seat in which more bass is desired. When hooked up, the "Tactile Motion" feedback provides the wondrous feeling of bass without the hearing loss associated with cranking things to 11. Additionally, each chair can be controlled independently, meaning that some viewers could experience more rumble than others. Sadly, there's no mention of a price, but we're sure you can find an inflated one by phoning up your nearest HT dealer.

Klein + Hummel intros O 810 and O 870 subwoofers

by Darren Murph posted Feb 21st 2008 at 8:05PM


Klein + Hummel has exposed a new duo of earth-shakers today, dubbed the O 810 and O 870. These subwoofers were designed for use in "music, broadcast, and post-production studios for tracking, mixing, and mastering," which means that they'll most certainly suffice in your humble (or not so humble) home theater setup. Interestingly, the press release fails to mention the difference between the two, power handling specifications or even what size the woofer is, but we do know that each unit will feature four-mode LFE channel processing, fourth order crossovers / flexible acoustical controls and built-in volume controls. Additionally, the subbies can handle frequencies down to 18Hz, and while no price is given (surprised?), we fully expect 'em to cater to the affluent sect.

EBTB's Sputnik 12 hangs around, pumps out bass

by Darren Murph posted Dec 13th 2007 at 7:59AM


We'll admit, Everything But The Box just might be the zaniest name we've ever heard for a speaker company, but hey, it's not like the name doesn't fit. Just take a look above -- that there is a floating subwoofer dubbed the Sputnik 12. Apparently, the 12-inch passive woofer was designed to handle 1,000-watts of continuous power without being in any sort of boring cube, and it supposedly feels right at home hanging from a ceiling or resting on any inanimate object. The company is also designing a floor standing version if that's more your style, but unfortunately, we've no idea how costly these are nor how soon they'll make it to American soil.

[Via AudioJunkies, thanks Lukas G.]




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